23-year-old streams suicide live on Facebook

April 4, 2017, 5:09 PM IST

Mumbai: A youth who hails from Bengaluru committed suicide on Monday by jumping off from the 19th floor of Mumbai’s Taj Lands End Hotel. Minutes before committing suicide, he posted the act on Facebook Live.

Arjun Bharadwaj, 23, son of a Bengaluru-based businessman was a student at Narsee Monjee College. He had streamed a Facebook Live video which is one minute and 43 seconds long in which he is heard describing the suicide plan. The video has gone viral on social media.

The Police were informed when the hotel staff found him in a pool of blood at around 6.20 pm. He was immediately rushed to the Lilavati Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

A suicide note was discovered from him which indicates that he was disturbed. He also apologized for breaking the window of the room from which he has jumped. He is also seen smoking and drinking alcohol in the video. Bharadwaj said no one else was to be held responsible for his death.

He said in the video that. “This is probably the stupidest live video you have seen on Facebook.” He signs off bidding farewell with the ominous words, “See you on the other side.” His cell phone has been sent for examination.

Deven Bharti Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) is investigating the case with the Bandra police station. He also appealed to the media not to telecast the video, he said. “It’s disturbing and can have a huge impact on young minds.”

The video has been blocked after speaking to FB officials. Pandit Thackeray, Senior Inspector, Bandra police station, said: “We have informed the family about the incident and they have come to the city from Bengaluru to collect the body.”

“Prima facie, it seems that the youth was depressed and we are probing if he was addicted to drugs. We are investigating the case,” said Thackeray.